This book was amazing from start to finish - it really makes you think about the pedestal we put criminals on and how we make them famous (or infamous’). It shines light on the true crime community and how they infatuate themselves on these people. I must say I did clock the ending quite early on but I’m a bit of a true crime sleuth myself but either way, it was brilliant!

I really loved the first half of this book. The concept was super unique and the I found the FMC to be very likeable in the most unexpected ways - given the context of the book.

Whilst I really enjoyed the premise, I did struggle with the second half of the book, and found that the development of the relationship between Hannah and William being tied together slightly too quickly when they physically met.

With that being said, it was a super unique and enjoyable novel and I would recommend it!!

A thank you to Tasha Coryell, Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

The narrative expertly blurs the lines between obsession, empowerment, and self-destruction, drawing readers into Hannah’s fractured world as she navigates the aftermath of William’s acquittal. The exploration of true-crime culture and its impact on identity and relationships feels sharp and relevant, adding layers of depth to an already compelling story.

With a razor-sharp voice and relentless pacing, this thriller keeps you guessing until the final page. Fans of morally ambiguous characters, dark psychological tension, and surprising twists will find this book impossible to put down. A brilliant debut that lingers long after the final twist!

This book!
So I absolutely wasn’t sure what to expect from this book whatsoever. I saw serial killer I saw love. I thought let’s get involved.

It was twisty, it was unexpected and the plot wasn’t what I expected at all.

The ending somewhat I guessed. Though I throughly enjoyed! Not my usual genre I mean no fantasy or smut lmaoo however I read this as I was allowed it via netgalley if I could give 3.5 on here I would so I should really put 4.

I liked the way it was it felt like an account of her time and experience whilst writing letters to a serial killer. It was a little twisty especially at the end and I enjoyed all of that too!


Deffo would recommend!

Thanking Tasha Coryell, Orion Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this title. Here follows my review of the book.

What on Earth have I just read? I did not like this book at all. I found the leading lady to be utterly unlikeable, non-relatable, and absolutely delusional. If I had first read the reviews on Goodreads rather than on Netgalley, I would have abandoned this book from the start.

Like others, I stuck with the book more to see how the story resolved itself than because it was an interesting premise. I thought I figured out a plot twist and had a list of reasons for my guess, which were largely on point. Basically, this book is not taxing on the intellect.

I love the primary idea of the novel, I just did not appreciate the text, the way it was written, the voice of each of the characters, everything else pretty much. It reminded me a lot of Fifty Shades of Grey because it was yet another book I felt was written to be enjoyed by adults but had an immaturity of writing style about it; like a child playing at being a grown up.

Having invested too much time in reading the book, I am opting not to waste any more writing a review. This book is ultimately for fans of E.L. James and similar writers, and people looking for a quick read infused with tedious humor. I, however, will not miss Hannah wondering and voicing her query about whether she is going to be killed. The book was so unrealistic in writing a full cast of flawed people with no redeeming characteristics that it was difficult to treat the book as an escape to get lost in. For these reasons, my rating is rounded up to 2 out of 5 stars.

If you've ever wondered about the type of women who write to violent murderers, this book may answer that question, but may also make you think differently about them.

Hannah is a deeply insecure woman who longs to be desired for it is only through the eyes of another that she can feel any kind of self-worth. Healthy, reciprocal love isn't for her. She wants obsessive, all consuming passion.

When murdered women's bodies are discovered in a ravine in Georgia she becomes fully invested in their story. The alleged killer is handsome and intriguing. Seeking answers she writes to William Thompson in prison, and to her surprise he replies. He never protests his innocence but nor does he confess his guilt.

Over time, feelings grow between them and she derails her life to attend the trial.

Her desire for William is complicated. In a bid to find out more about his background she befriends his brother and this only leaves her with more questions than answers.

I'm not going to talk any more about the plot as it would spoil things for potential readers. What I will say is that this author knows nuance and the complexities of the mind. She writes Hannah so brilliantly. The constant battle with her own demons, the cognitive dissonance, the wry and dark humour she can see in her situation.

This book will make you suspect everyone and it was a satisfying conclusion in my opinion. Love, in all its complexity is messy and human behaviour is often irrational and this book perfectly portrays that. A fantastic story, fast paced, intricate and wholly captivating.

Very quick read, very quirky and entertaining!

Hannah is a bit of an unhinged and delusional female main character. She is very insecure and fixated on pleasing mediocre man. She is deeply unhappy with her life, but she actually never does anything to change it... for example she complains that she never gets a promotion at work, but also describes how she never does any work there. I think she was a very well written character, so well written that her decisions do make sense even if I personally can’t relate or would’ve handled differently.

I wouldn’t say that the twist was predictable from the beginning but at some point you could suspect who the killer was.

The last chapter had an unexpected twist that I didn’t like .. it was kinda cringe, but I guess the female protagonist was never written to be relatable or even likable.

I also think you can read this book as a criticism on society’s obsession with serial killers.

The author teaches English, apparently. God help her pupils. Not once did she give a human being in the story the correct subjective pronoun, and worse was the constant misuse of I (subject) and me (object). I quote (just a couple out of the many): "…between William and I" (Argh!) and ……"picture of William and I" (Argh again!). And whilst she achieved something or another in creative writing, I can only assume she missed the lessons on 'avoiding the unnecessary use of that as a conjunction'.

Despite these and a host of other unforgiveable schoolboy grammatical errors, the story was just about compelling enough, but the characters aren't in the slightest bit engaging or likeable, the main character, Hannah, in particular: a needy and delusional fantasist. It was very easy to guess who the actual perpetrator was within a few pages of his introduction to the story.

All in all, this isn't a book I can recommend.

Love Letters to a Serial Killer really has something for everyone. It's one of those books that spans multiple genres, and I really enjoy that. Don't be fooled by the cutesy cover - this is one crazy ride you are about to embark on.
If you liked None Of This Is True I would encourage you to pick this one up. I think there will be a huge audience who will really enjoy this one! It gives you the edge-of-your-seat content you'd expect from a good thriller but I did think there were parts of it which were a little too obvious. Overall a fun one though and I'm glad I read it!

3.5 stars rounded down for Goodreads.

I really wanted to enjoy this one but it didn't really wow me as much as I hoped it would. Firstly I saw the plot twist coming from a mile away. I know that not all thrillers have to have a twist that is completely out of the blue, but I would've appreciated if the book made me doubt what I thought the twist was a bit more. None of the characters are particularly likeable and when the accused serial killer is the one who seems the most mentally stable, that should tell you enough about the amount of therapy everyone else could benefit from. I think Will's letters from prison needed some more depth to them rather than just seeming like texts you'd send to someone when you're in the talking stage. If you want to read a book in the perspective of a woman who makes terrible decisions and would ignore a red flag and would ignore a red flag if it was the size of a house, you might enjoy this book.

This was a good read. When Hannah started writing to the serial killer, it intrigued me to find out what would happen afterwards. I wasn't keen on some of Hannah's decisions and thought she was stupid at times, but it was a good read. Thank you @Netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this novel.

It's just so so fun - everything I wanted it to be, outrageous and shocking and completely comfortable with the ickiness of its concept. The twist was obvious, but I didn't mind that at all because I just enjoyed it so much. Exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC

A fun and unique romance novel. This was really entertaining. I was a bit iffy about the relationship at the start but it grew on me. The characters were a bit annoying at times, but the mystery-ish aspect was good. An easy palate cleanser.

"Love Letters to a Serial Killer" is a fascinating, yet flawed novel. The main character, Hannah, is a neurotic and self-destructive individual with questionable decision-making skills. The plot is predictable, and the twist is easily guessable. However, the book is engrossing, like a train wreck that you can't look away from. It explores the mind of a woman who falls in love with a serial killer, which is both disturbing and intriguing. The characters are dysfunctional and unlikable, but the book is still a page-turner. Overall, it's a mixed bag, but worth reading if you're interested in a dark and twisted story.

As for the rating, I'd say 3 out of 5 stars. The book's ability to captivate the reader despite its flaws is notable, but the predictable plot and unlikable characters prevent it from being a higher-rated read.

This was an intriguing, darkly humorous exploration of obsession and love in unexpected places. The writing styke is sharp, with moments that are both chilling and surprisingly witty. However, while the concept is original, the plot sometimes feels disjointed, and certain characters could have been more developed. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read, but it may leave some readers wanting more depth. A solid book for fans of unconventional narratives

📖 NetGalley Review

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
Orion, 4th July 2024

This drew me in from the very first page. Our main character, Hannah, works in a low-paid job, which makes her miserable. She is self-absorbed, illogical, and a marvellous, fun character to read.

Hannah's bff has dumped her for a man, so she's bored and joins an online crime forum, throwing her all into trying to solve a string of murders. When William, a handsome, wealthy lawyer is arrested, Hannah starts writing to him. Her fixation with William quickly becomes an obsession, leading to all kinds of trouble.

The seamless writing in this unusual novel made it flow with ease. It was a real joy to read, and the ending completely threw me! Readers of thrillers and romance books alike will find plenty to enjoy with this page-turner.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Orion and Tasha Coryell for providing an eARC via NetGalley; this is my unbiased review.

3.5 stars. I really liked the first 80ish % of this book, the MC was a bit strange but it’s a book about falling in love with a serial killer so that’s to be expected 😂. I liked the twist all was going well… then the last part was just ridiculous and it all ended up falling flat for me

"Love Letters to a Serial Killer" by Tasha Coryell is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of obsession, love, and the darker facets of human nature. The novel delves into the complexities of a relationship that blurs the lines between love and madness, as the protagonist finds herself drawn to a notorious serial killer. Coryell's writing is both lyrical and chilling, creating a gripping atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. The character development is rich, allowing us to understand the motivations and turmoil of both the lover and the beloved. This book is not just a tale of crime; it's a deep dive into the psychology of love and the lengths to which one might go for it. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, "Love Letters to a Serial Killer" will leave you questioning the nature of affection and the boundaries of morality.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was so much better than I was expecting. If you haven’t read it yet, add it to your list immediately!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC

18+

This was an exceptionally clever book. Despite that fact it was a very easy read and I managed to read it in two sittings. We have a woman who is unhappy at her job and with her love and so she starts to follow a serial killers case closely. She becomes obsessive about finding him and raising awareness for the victims and then, in a drunken act, writes him an angry letter. He responds and thus they begin to communicate. The FMC is incredibly unlikable, feeling both sorry for herself and like she is better than all the other people around her in equal parts. She thinks she should have been promoted, yet does not do her job. There is also a huge unreliable narrator element, which I adore. I loved picking through the story, trying to figure out what was true and what was just a reflection of the FMC. The unlikability of the FMC was definitely a driving force in the story but still felt purposeful enough that it was not irritating. I would have loved to have seen this book written from both perspectives as I would have liked to see how the man the FMC was communicating with felt about the crimes he was accused of and the way he felt about the FMC, not the FMC's perspective of how he felt for her.

I really enjoyed reading this.

3.5 stars